Frozen berries sold at Costco have been linked to a five-state hepatitis A outbreak. JUSTIN SULLIVAN, GETTY IMAGES

An unidentified Orange County resident is among six Californians to contract hepatitis A linked to frozen mixed berries sold at Costco.

The California Department of Public Health on Friday issued a warning to consumers to throw away Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend of berries.

Costco has removed the berries from its shelves and is contacting its members who purchased the product, public health officials said.

Hepatitis A virus is usually spread when someone eats a tiny amount of fecal matter in food. It also may be transmitted through close contact with an infected person.

Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain and jaundice. Symptoms develop two to six weeks after consuming contaminated food or drink. Most people make a full recovery but illness can last up to several months.

"Anyone who has consumed this specific product in the last 14 days should contact their doctor to discuss possible hepatitis A prevention and treatment options," Dr. Ron Chapman, state health director, said in a news release.

The hepatitis A vaccine can prevent infection if given within 14 days of exposure.

Nationwide, at least 30 cases are under investigation in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. In California, three of the six patients required hospitalization.

The Orange County patient was not hospitalized, said Orange County Health Care Agency spokeswoman Deanne Thompson.

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